Automotive friction assist system with improved traction

ABSTRACT

An automotive friction assist system with improved traction enables a motor vehicle to stop quickly and start easily on low friction surfaces, such as those present during icy conditions. The system operates by introducing more static friction points between the leading contact edges of wheels of a motor vehicle. Additionally, the present invention provides a sensor to activate the friction assist system when the road surface temperature is at or near the freezing point of water. The friction assist system will increase static friction on a road surface and aid an ABS system on a vehicle to bring the vehicle to a stop in less distance than otherwise possible. The friction assist system will also increase static friction and aid a motor vehicle&#39;s wheel slip regulator when a vehicle is attempting to gain traction or forward drive momentum.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for improving traction for automotive vehicles, and more particularly to a method and system for improving traction for an automotive vehicle during icy or snowy conditions.

Antilock breaking systems (ABS) significantly improved the stopping ability of automotive vehicles, even during icy condition. However, antilock brakes are rendered much less effective under certain road conditions, such as road conditions caused by black ice, freezing rain or snow. Driving in these road conditions, ice crystal buildup prevents the antilock braking system from working because of the significantly reduced road friction. Yet, such conditions cause a significant amount of personal injuries and personal property damages every year.

Moreover, icy conditions also reduce traction making it difficult for motor vehicles to gain forward momentum, especially when driving up even the slightest incline.

The present invention is therefore directed to the problem of developing a method and apparatus for improving the ability of a motor vehicle to stop under icy conditions as well as to improve the ability of a motor vehicle to gain traction and forward momentum under icy conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves these and other problems by providing a method and apparatus for automatically detecting potential slippery conditions and automatically deploying a supply of pellets, such as ceramic or biodegradable pellets, in front of the wheels of the motor vehicle. The pellets include friction grains and friction material to increase the static friction of the road surface, thereby improving the traction of the wheels despite icy conditions.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an exemplary embodiment of apparatus for improving traction of one or more wheels of a motor vehicle includes one or more sensors and a pellet delivery device to deliver a supply of pellets at a point just before the one or more wheels reaches a road surface. The sensor determines a temperature of the road surface. The sensor may include an infrared thermometer.

The exemplary embodiment also includes a processor coupled to the sensor and the pellet delivery device to activate the pellet delivery device when the sensor indicates the temperature of the road surface has reached a predetermined temperature.

The exemplary embodiment may also include a pellet tank to hold a large supply of pellets, preferably more pellets than would be needed in any one situation. The pellet tank may include an offset vibration motor disposed at a base of the pellet tank to vibrate the pellets to maintain the pellets moving towards an exit hole when being deployed.

The pellet delivery device may also include an air powered pellet propulsion mechanism having an electrical activator coupled to the processor. In this case, the pellet delivery device may also include an air tank and an air regulator mechanically coupled to the air tank and the air powered pellet propulsion mechanism to deliver the pellets that provide increased friction to the road surface.

The pellet delivery device may also include a pellet delivery chute. In this case, the pellet tank has a bottom and a hole in the bottom. The pellet delivery chute is mechanically coupled to the hole. A pellet hopper is mechanically coupled to the pellet delivery chute to stage the pellets for deployment. In this case, the pellet tank is pitched downward from a center of the bottom of the tank towards the hole.

According to another aspect of the present invention, each of the pellets may include an outer shell made of a biodegradable material, such as a biodegradable Gel material. The outer shell may have a spheroidal shape and encloses a friction material, multiple friction grains and a coloring liquid, such as a biodegradable soy-based coloring liquid. The friction material may comprise sand, salt, cat litter or any other material that provides increased friction on slippery surfaces. The friction grains may be a three sided, hollow structure (made of a ceramic or other biodegradable material) having a size of about 3.5 millimeters. The coloring liquid may comprise a soy-based paint, such as blue, green or red (other colors may suffice as well) paint. The pellet may have a diameter of about 0.75 inches. The composition of the pellet may be about sixty percent friction grains and thirty percent friction material. The composition of the pellet may be about ten percent friction coloring liquid.

The exemplary embodiment may also include a graphical user interface coupled to the processor to indicate an operational status of the apparatus, a pellet supply level, and to accept a manual activation or deactivation command from a driver. The graphical user interface may also accept a temperature at which the processor activates the pellet delivery device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for improving traction of wheels of a motor vehicle includes determining automatically when road conditions require improved traction, and delivering automatically after this determination a supply of pellets at a point just before the wheels reach the road surface. This supply may be directed at one or more wheels depending on the circumstances, and may in fact be determined by the driver.

In this embodiment, the determining of when road conditions require additional friction may include sensing a temperature of a road surface and determining when the temperature of the road surface has fallen below a predetermined level near a freezing point of water. For example, the predetermined level may be a few degrees above the freezing point to provide margin. The sensing may include using a single sensor or multiple sensors to sense the road surface temperature.

In this embodiment, the delivering may include directing a pellet delivery device at a point where the one or more wheels reach the road surface and propelling a supply of ceramic pellets containing a plurality of ceramic friction grains and a friction material at this point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for improving traction of wheels of a motor vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a pellet for use in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 according to another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a pellet fill tank for use in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 according to yet another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a pellet delivery device for use in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 according to still another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts an air tank and regulator to couple to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 according to yet another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts an example of how the pellets of FIG. 1 are deployed at the wheels to improve surface traction according to another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method for improving traction of wheels of a motor vehicle according to still another aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides an automotive Friction Assist System (FAS) with improved traction to enable a motor vehicle to stop quickly and start easily on low friction surfaces, such as those present during icy conditions.

The present invention provides a method of introducing more static friction points between the leading contact edges of all wheels of a motor vehicle. Additionally, the present invention provides a sensor to activate the friction assist system when the road surface temperature is at the freezing point of water, i.e., zero degrees centigrade or thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, multiple sensors could be used.

The friction assist system of the present invention will increase static friction on a road surface and aid the current ABS system on a vehicle to bring the vehicle to a stop in less distance for a vehicle equipped with the friction assist system than a vehicle not equipped with the friction assist system—all other variables being equal.

The friction assist system of the present invention will also increase static friction and aid a motor vehicle's wheel slip detected by a traction control system, also known as anti-slip regulation when a vehicle is attempting to gain traction or forward drive momentum in less time on a vehicle equipped with the friction assist system than a vehicle not equipped with the friction assist system—again, all other variables being equal.

Overview

Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment 10 of a friction assist system of the present invention. The exemplary embodiment 10 involves sensors and computerized logic that determine when to deploy biodegradable or ceramic pellets in front of the leading edge of selected wheels of a vehicle to achieve static friction for either a desired stop condition or traction condition. Each of the elements will be discussed in detail.

Friction Pellets

Turning to FIG. 2, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a pellet 20 for use in the friction assist system of the present invention. Biodegradable or ceramic pellets are used to increase the static friction of the road surface. The pellets are biodegradable so that no environmental hazard is caused by deploying them on the road surface. The diameter of the pellet 21 is selected to be about ¾ of an inch, or about 2 centimeters.

Many different pellets can be used as long as the pellets do not provide an environmental hazard when deployed and are sufficiently small to provide increased friction. Moreover, other shapes may suffice to further increase the static friction.

Each exemplary pellet 20 contains many friction grain triangles 21 that take up most of the space inside the pellet 20. In one exemplary embodiment of the pellet, the pellet includes about 35 grain triangles, which take up about sixty percent (60%) of the interior space. Sand (or other suitable material) 22 takes up most of the remaining interior space inside pellet 20. In the exemplary embodiment of the pellet 20, sand 22 takes up about 30% of the space inside the pellet 20. The remaining space inside the pellet 20 is taken up by a colored liquid 21, such as a biodegradable soy-based colored liquid, so that one can determine if the pellet was deployed. Biodegradable materials are preferable to reduce any environmental impact by the use of the pellets of the present invention; however, other materials may still provide the necessary friction. In the exemplary embodiment 20, the colored liquid is blue soy paint 23, which takes up about 10% of the space inside the pellet 20. Such pellets are often used in paint ball guns. Each grain inside the pellet is about 3.5 millimeters in size.

Friction Pellet Fill Tank

Turning to FIG. 3, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a friction pellet fill tank 30 according to one aspect of the present invention. A supply of pellets 32 is maintained in a tank 31 disposed in the automotive vehicle, preferably near the wheels. One tank may suffice. In a two tank configuration, one tank can be placed in the front and one tank can be placed in the rear, preferably in locations with ease of access under the hood or trunk lid for easy replacement of pellets when it becomes necessary to refill the tank with pellets. One tank may suffice to service wheels in close proximity within about four feet (e.g., about 48 inches) of each other. If the friction assist system of the present invention is activated because the ABS system is being deployed and the predetermined minimum temperature has been reached, it is imperative that the friction pellets are deployed to all moving wheels of the vehicle. By deploying the friction pellets of the present invention to all moving wheels, the driver can maintain in-line braking stability. However, if the friction pellets are deployed to only two of the wheels, deploying the friction pellets could result in a loss of in-line braking causing the vehicle to yaw or spin out. Moreover, if under acceleration any drive wheel reports traction control slip, friction pellets can be deployed to these drive wheels only to improve traction for these slipping wheels. Of course, friction pellets could still be deployed to all wheels in this circumstance as well. Thus, the number of pellet tanks and holes need not be dependent on the number of wheels, but preferably a supply of pellets should be directable at each moving wheel.

The tank 31 includes one or more holes 34, 35. Depending on the configuration of the tank bottom and chutes, one tank and one hole can suffice to deliver a supply of pellets to each wheel. In some configurations, more tanks may be necessary on multi-axle vehicles, such as when the axles are spaced more than four feet or so from the tank.

The bottom of the pellet tank 31 is preferably pitched to its center to enable a gravity feed of pellets 32 into the holes 34, 35. An offset vibration motor 33 is deployed below the tank keep the pellets 32 moving when the pellets 32 are being deployed.

Gravity in combination with the offset vibration motor 33 cause pellets 38, 39 to fall through holes 34, 35, respectively, and into chutes 36, 37 respectively. The left side of FIG. 3 shows a blow-up of hole 34 indicating the downward pitch of the hole relative to the center of the tank 31.

Pellet Hoppers

Turning to FIG. 40, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a pellet hopper 40 for use in the present invention. At the bottom of chute 36, a pellet hopper 40 is disposed, which pellet hopper 41 stages the pellets 47 for deployment. Pellet hopper 40 includes a housing 41 with an infrared thermometer 42 disposed in it to take a temperature of the housing 41.

Pellet Delivery Pods

Pellet hopper 41 is coupled to a weatherproof launch rail 44 (termed a pellet delivery pod) with a deployment door 45 via which the pellets 49 are sent out for deployment near the wheel. Environmental thermostatic heated housing covering 43 ensures the launch rail 44 remains weatherproof. Pellets 48 inside the launch rail 44 are jettisoned out under pressure by a pressurized supply 50 (see FIG. 5) connected to the launch rail by pressure line 46.

Pellet Delivery Pod Air Tank and Regulator

Turning to FIG. 5, shown therein is a pressurized supply system 50 for use in the friction assist system of the present invention. Pressure line 46 connects to tank 52 via regulator 51. Tank 52 is preferably compressed air or nitrogen. One possible exemplary embodiment for tank 52 is a pure energy N₂ compressed air tank (72 cubic inch/3000 pounds per square inch). One air tank 52 can serve two pellet delivery pods 44.

Turning to FIG. 6, shown therein is a diagram 60 of the pellets being deployed in accordance with the present invention. Pellet delivery pod 44 deploys the pellets at a rate of about 10 pellets per second—other rates may suffice. Pellet delivery pod 44 is advantageously directed at a point of wheel 61 just before the wheel makes contact with the road surface 63. In this diagram in FIG. 6, road surface 63 is coated with ice or snow 64 making the road 63 extremely slippery or with significantly decreased the friction.

As the pellet is crushed upon impact with a hard surface just in front of the wheel and/or under the weight of the vehicle by wheel 61, the friction material 22 (e.g., sand) and friction grains 21 and coloring or dye 23 are disposed on the road surface, which colors the road surface 63 with the coloring or dye 23 (e.g., blue soy paint). The friction grains 21 and friction material 22 embed in the road surface increasing the static friction of the icy road surface, thereby enabling the tires on wheel 61 to adhere to the road surface 63 despite the ice or snow 64 on the road surface 63.

IR Thermometer

Turning to FIG. 4, the present invention provides one or more strategically placed infrared (IR) thermometer Transmitter/Receivers 42 directed to measure the road surface 63 immediately before the wheel. IR Thermometers are low level lasers that measure black body radiation. A temperature reading is obtained by measuring the electromagnetic radiation caused by molecular movement. By measuring the electromagnetic radiation emitted by molecular movement, a temperature can be obtained. This measurement method is considered a non-contact measurement. The sensor picks up the emitted thermal radiation of an object or point of interest. The radiation is turned into energy then sent to a detector in the same transmitting receiving device, where the energy detected is translated into a temperature reading.

Software

A computerized module operates the friction assist system, which becomes activated when the temperature detected by the IR thermometer reaches a predetermined low temperature, such as between 0 and 10 degrees above zero Farhenheit or so. Once the computerized module determines that temperature has reached the predetermined point, the computerized module activates the pellet deployment pod 44, which opens the door and fires the pellets as shown in FIG. 6.

Interface Module

A graphical user interface shows the activation temperature and the fact that the friction assist system is operating. A manual override button can be used when the driver feels additional static friction is necessary despite the temperature. A level detector can indicate to the driver when the pellet supply needs to be replenished. 

1. An apparatus for improving traction of one or more wheels of a motor vehicle comprising: a pellet delivery device to deliver a plurality of pellets at a point just before the one or more wheels of the motor vehicle reaches a road surface; one or more sensors to determine a temperature of the road surface; and a processor coupled to the one or more sensors and the pellet delivery device to activate the pellet delivery device when the one or more sensors indicate the temperature of the road surface has reached a predetermined temperature; a pellet tank to hold a supply of pellets; and an offset vibration motor disposed at a base of the pellet tank to vibrate the pellets to maintain the pellets moving when being deployed.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pellet delivery device further comprises: an air powered pellet propulsion mechanism having an electrical activator coupled to the processor.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said pellet delivery device further comprises: an air tank; and an air regulator mechanically coupled to the air tank and the air powered pellet gun to provide air power to the air powered pellet propulsion mechanism.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pellet delivery device further comprises: a pellet delivery chute, wherein said pellet tank has a bottom and at least one hole at the bottom and said pellet delivery chute is mechanically coupled to the at least one hole; and a pellet hopper mechanically coupled to the pellet delivery chute to stage the plurality of pellets for deployment, wherein said pellet tank is pitched downward from a center of the bottom of the tank towards said at least one hole.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, each of said pellets comprises: an outer shell made of a biodegradable material, said outer shell having a spheroidal shape; a friction material; a plurality of friction grains; and a coloring liquid.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the friction material comprises sand.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the friction grain comprises a three sided, hollow ceramic structure having a size of about 3.5 millimeters.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the coloring liquid comprises a soy-based paint.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pellet has a diameter of about 0.75 inches.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the composition of the pellet is about sixty percent friction grains and thirty percent friction material.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the composition of the pellet is about ten percent friction coloring liquid.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a ceramic material.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a graphical user interface coupled to the processor to indicate an operational status of the apparatus, a pellet supply level, and to accept a manual activation or deactivation command from a driver.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface also accepts a temperature at which the processor activates the pellet delivery device.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprises one or more infrared thermometers.
 18. A method for improving traction of one or more wheels of the motor vehicle comprising: determining automatically when road conditions require improved traction; delivering automatically, with a pellet delivery device after said determining, a plurality of pellets at a point just before the one or more wheels reaches a road surface; and vibrating the pellets with an offset vibration motor disposed at a base of the pellet tank to to maintain the pellets moving when being delivered.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said determining further comprises: sensing a temperature of a road surface and determining when the temperature of the road surface has fallen below a predetermined level near a freezing point of water.
 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said delivering further comprises: directing a pellet delivery device at a point where the one or more wheels reach the road surface and propelling at the point a supply of biodegradable pellets containing a plurality of friction grains and a friction material. 